DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II National Players of the Week awards for the period ending March 20th. Benedict senior third baseman Brandon Gipson is the National Hitter of the Week while Colo.-Mines' junior right-hander Mike Fuller is the National Pitcher of the Week.
Mike Fuller (Parker, Colo.) tossed a two-hit complete game shutout in CSM's 2-0 victory over Mesa State in the series finale between the Mavericks and Orediggers on Mar. 20 in Golden, Colo. Fuller needed just 88 pitches (65 strikes) while going the distance and improving his season record to 2-3. Fuller leads the CSM pitching staff in innings pitched (29.0) and is second on the squad in strikeouts (21). Fuller leads all CSM starters in ERA (6.25) and opponent batting average (.270) in his five appearances (all starts) this season.
Rodriguez (West Palm Beach, Fla.) was dominant in a 2-0 win over No. 16 Florida Tech. Working all nine innings, the junior allowed just two hits and two walks. He set a new Barry single-game record with 16 strikeouts in the complete-game shutout. The Buccaneer pitcher started off by hitting the first two batters of the game before striking out seven of the next eight. He took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning. With a 2.93 ERA on the season, Rodriguez has struck out 55 batters in 43 innings pitched.
Division II Regional Players of the Week:
Atlantic: Mike Leviseur, Seton Hill (Hitter); Jeremy Gigliotti, East Stroudsburg (Pitcher)
· Central: Travis Parsons, Wayne State (Neb.) (Hitter); Mike Fuller, Colo.-Mines (Pitcher)
· East: Michael White, Stonehill (Hitter); Kevin Pettine, Southern Conn. State (Pitcher)
· Midwest: Ben Baker, Rockhurst (Hitter); Matt Rustulka, Wayne State (Mich.) (Pitcher)
· South: Brandon Gipson, Benedict (Hitter); Brodie Brumley, Harding (Pitcher)
· South Central: Gus Durst, Lincoln (Mo.) (Hitter); Greg Herbst, St. Mary's (Pitcher)
· Southeast: John Roberts, Armstrong Atlantic (Hitter); Cameron Ward, Limestone College (Pitcher)
· West: Danny Nelson, Cal. St.-Monterrey Bay (Hitter); Jason Wilson, Western Oregon (Pitcher)
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory, newsletter updates and official votes in the Howser Award Player of the Year, Regional Player of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors preseason All-America awards, publication and writing contests.
2011 NCBWA Division II Players of the Week:
Feb. 20: Tyler Migl, St. Mary's, Texas (Hitter);
Trey Mitchell, North Alabama (Pitcher)
· Feb. 27: Wayne Hawkins, Arkansas-Monticello
(Hitter); Dave Middendorf, Northern Kentucky (Pitcher)
· March 6: Drew Dwelly, Barry (Hitter); Gabriel
Asakura, Cal State-Los Angeles (Pitcher)
· March 13: Kaleb Cunningham, Indianapolis (Hitter);
Manny Rodriguez, Barry (Pitcher)
· March 20: Brandon Gipson, Benedict (Hitter);
Mike Fuller, Colorado-Mines (Pitcher)
· March 27: Chase Larsson, Cameron (Hitter);
Ryan Griffin, Alabama-Huntsville (Pitcher)
· April 4: Jenzen Torres, Cal Poly Pomona (Hitter);
Joby Lapkowicz, Slippery Rock (Pitcher)
· April 11: Chase Larsson, Cameron (Hitter);
Ben Hawkins, West Florida (Pitcher)
· April 18: Dillon Hazlett, Emporia State (Hitter);
Vinny DePierro, UMass Lowell (Pitcher)
· April 25: Daniel Dillard, Western Oregon (Hitter);
Zach Jeney, Slippery Rock (Pitcher)
· May 2: Josh Vining, Valdosta State (Hitter);
Scott Lieser, St. Cloud State (Pitcher)
· May 9: Clay Mohr, New Mexico Highlands (Hitter);
Grady Wood, Western Oregon (Pitcher)